1927 - 2017
HARTWICK - John J. Thorpe, age 90, died Sunday afternoon, November 26, 2017, at Focus Rehabilitation and Nursing Center at Otsego.
Born July 17, 1927, in Union City, New Jersey, John was the son of John and Alice Thorpe. Raised in Washington Township, he graduated from Westwood Regional High School. He was then inducted into the United States Army and proudly served his country during World War II. He often recalled the great time he and many other servicemen had in New York City on V-J Day.
After his military service, John attended Fairleigh Dickinson University and graduated with a bachelor's degree. For many years he was employed as a chemist with American Cyanamid in Pearl River.
On May 15, 1954, John married Jean Cary in Westwood, New Jersey. In 1956 they moved first to Pearl River and then Nanuet where they raised their family. In 1995 John and Jean moved to Hartwick and settled on West Hill.
Throughout his life John enjoyed fishing, hunting and target shooting, as well as boating on Otsego Lake.
John is survived by two daughters, Nancy Higgins and her husband, John, of Middletown, and Carol Stankard of Hartwick; and a granddaughter, Jennifer Jean Casey -- who he affectionately called Rascal -- and her husband, Thomas of Middletown. He is further survived by one sister, Lucille Jorgensen of Pearl River, and her children, Kathe Jorgensen and Peter Jorgensen and wife, Brenda.
He was predeceased by his wife of 62 years, Jean Thorpe who died March 12, 2017; a son, John J. Thorpe, Jr. who died in 1976 and a son-in-law, Matt Stankard who died in 1999.
A private graveside service will be held in George Washington Memorial Park, Paramus, New Jersey.
Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.
If you would like to send condolences to the family, send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family. If you would like to send flowers in memory of the deceased, contact Mohican Flowers at (607) 547-8822, or A Rose is a Rose at (607) 264-3100.
